Davis County primary results: layton sees good voter turnout

Voters frustrated over a proposed west Layton development, which they defeated at the polls in 2012, created just enough wave to carry two of three political newcomers who openly opposed the project into the Nov. 5 municipal general election.

But when it came to mayor, Layton voters in Tuesday’s primary went with more familiar names, giving their nod to two candidates already packing a wealth of business experience.

Layton businessman and home builder Bob Stevenson and Layton City Councilman Jory Francis, owner of Yusef Laboratories in the Freeport Center, advanced to the general election, eliminating from the race Grace Stevenson, a distant relative to Bob Stevenson, and Councilwoman Joyce Forbes Brown from the mayoral race.

Brown will continue to serve on the council in fulfilling the remainder of her 4-year term.

Stevenson, 59, and Francis,39, who has served two years on the council, were pleased with the results.

“I am very grateful and appreciative of all the support,” Stevenson said. “Congratulations to all those (candidates) who put their time and effort into making Layton city a better place to live.”

Francis was equally humbled by his strong showing.

Francis said he will have to work twice as hard in the general election in laying out his resume and what he envisions for the city.

But while Layton voters, just over 8 percent of the city’s registered voters casting ballots in Tuesday’s primary, went with business owners in the mayoral race, those same voters threw most of their support behind political newcomer Tom Day, co-owner of Day Farms.

Day could not be reached for comment.

Day, along with Councilmen Barry Flitton and Michael Bouwhuis, and Joy Petro, also a political newcomer, advanced to the general election.

Dawn Fitzpatrick, a member of the Layton Planning Commission, and Shalie Reich, a former Weber State University student senator, were both eliminated from the contest.

Day, Petro and Grace Stevenson, who placed third in the mayoral race, were all supported by the Layton Citizens Committee, which originally organized in 2012 to oppose a city proposed mixed-use development on the west side of the city.

The voting percentage across Davis County on Tuesday was just more than 9 percent of all registered voters having cast a ballot.

All results are preliminary until the respective city councils have had time to officially canvass the election results, said Brian McKenzie, Davis County election manager.

The mayoral race in Syracuse also attracted a number of voters with challenger Terry Palmer and Councilman Douglas Peterson advancing to the general election. Eliminated from the mayoral race was Travis Jackson.

“I’m happy. It was a very good night. I was actually surprised I came out that good,” Palmer said.

“I am just going to keep doing the same thing I have been doing,” Palmer said, a campaign effort that has included knocking doors.

Those candidates for council advancing were top vote-getter and challenger Michael L. Gailey, Councilman Brian Duncan, currently serving an appointed term, Allen K. Lowry and Gary Pratt.

Gailey could not be reached for comment.

Those eliminated in the Syracuse council race were Daniel Schuler, Randy Miller and Travis Waller.

In the only other two Davis cities with mayoral primaries, West Bountiful advanced standing Mayor Ken Romney and challenger Bud Ingles, with Gary Spilman being eliminated, while Sunset voters advanced Beverly Macfarlane and Sunset City Councilman Ryan Furniss into the city’s Nov. 5 mayoral race.

“I think the citizens know that we need to pull together and move forward,” Macfarlane said of her margin of victory. Macfarlane, a retired contract analyst for the Department of Human Services, garnered 65 percent of all the ballots cast.

The residents of Sunset want a council that will work together, Macfarlane said. “I think the numbers speak for that,” she said of the vote.

Sunset Councilman Kevin Snow was eliminated from the mayoral race.

Other big winners were Bountiful City Council candidates John Pitt, Kendalyn Harris, Councilman Fred Moss and Richard Watson, who all advanced to the general election, while in Clearfield, those council candidates advancing were Keri Benson, Councilman Bruce Young, Benjamin Larsen and Randy Goodknight.

About 5 percent of all registered voters in Clearfield cast a ballot on Tuesday, while 15.4 percent of all registered voters cast ballots in Bountiful.

Those council candidates advancing in Centerville were Stephanie Ivie, George McEwan, Tami Filmore and J H Dellastatous. Just over 15 percent of the registered voters cast ballots.

The Clinton City Council race was led by Karen M. Peterson, who grabbed 38 percent of the ballots cast. Others there advancing in the council contest were Barbara Patterson, Michael Ray Petersen and Anthony Thompson.

Two-year council candidates here, Doug Anderson and Kristen Harbertson, advanced to the Nov. 5 general election. David Stringfellow was eliminated from the contest.

In Kaysville, challenger Susan Lee, Councilmen Gil Miller and Jared Taylor, and challenger Brian Frandsen advanced for two open four-year seats on the council.